How to Effectively Manage Low Performers: The CARES Framework

Ro Fernandez presents the CARES framework—Communicate, Accountability, Roadmap, Execution, and Support—as a managerial tool for helping underperforming team members improve without fear of job loss. The framework emphasizes documenting performance issues, engaging in two-way dialogue, establishing clear responsibilities, creating detailed 3-month improvement roadmaps with specific milestones, tracking progress through regular evaluation, and providing ongoing support through feedback and training. Engineering leaders will learn to combine this with situational leadership principles, adapting their approach based on each person's skill and motivation levels, while recognizing that some individuals may simply not be the right fit for the role or organization.